Reflections on the
Pandemic The past year and a half has been quite the learning curve. From navigating technology to dealing with loss on many levels, the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic are profound. We asked several Lancers to share their most transformative lesson from the pandemic.
Aurea Densing DeFranco ’84 Parent Engagement Director
Jamie Ceccato Perkins ’97 Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications
After COVID-19 presented itself to the world and affected our communities close to home, I began to take stock of what was truly important and how I could do better. After 20 years working for ad agencies, in publishing, in aerospace and high-tech companies, I pondered what it all meant and how my work could be more significant. I embarked on re-evaluating my career path to focus on aligning with an organization that lived by its mission, one that had a commitment to serving its community and shaping future leaders. The more I gave it thought, the more I realized I had a greater calling. So, I shifted gears and started looking for a new opportunity—in the middle of a pandemic, no less. I asked myself three questions: Where can I align my career passion with my faith? What organization best serves its community? Where can I make the most impact? My questions brought me full circle and led me home. I am honored to return to Saint Francis in this new marketing and communications role and feel a great responsibility to serve our students, families, alumni and fellow educators. We’re forging new paths, and I’m excited to see our community impact the future!
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PROGRESS Fall 2021
When we hunkered down, pulled our attention inward and physically separated from others for the greater good, many in our Lancer community turned their attention toward others who were more vulnerable or more impacted. From creatively welcoming our newest freshman families with personal phone calls, drive-through celebrations and social media shout-outs to funding grocery store gift cards and care packages for families in need, I was privileged to witness firsthand a level of generosity from Lancer parents that I did not expect to see. Seeing how families opened their hearts to embrace and take care of one another added another dimension to how I perceived community. Much of my work at Saint Francis involves gathering parents together to make new connections and celebrate existing ones.
Virtual spaces kept us connected to share our stories, to make others feel comfortable and to pray for each other. I learned that, during an incredibly challenging time, Lancer families could embody Holy Cross hospitality in keeping with the welcome offered by St. Andre Bessette in Montreal many years ago. I also learned that though we needed to remain distant, we could be united in solidarity, in community and in care of one another.
Robert Copple ’02 Facilities Director
In all my years at Saint Francis, starting when I worked parttime beginning in 2003, I never could have imagined seeing our campus as desolate and quiet as it was in spring 2020 and during the early part of the 2020-21 school year. Wearing masks and not seeing the faces of our community members made it challenging. I knew as the Facilities Department we would have to adjust to it not being business as usual. Safety and cleanliness became our top concern as well as social distancing and accommodating to the individual needs of our community. It gave me a whole new appreciation for what a truly cleaned space is and for what six feet is. When educators and students returned to campus last spring, it felt that much more significant. A lesson that I have taken from this past year is that the strength and cohesion of our Lancer community can overcome anything in the face of adversity.
